Seeking Professional Help

I'm a twenty-seven-year-old NEET who's feeling increasingly suicidal. I desperately want to talk to a professional, but I'm terrified that I'll be put on antidepressants. The very idea of taking mind-altering drugs scares me enough, but what's worse is that my parents don't seem to understand, or even believe in, anxiety or depression; they'd inevitably find out about any medication I'm on since they'd be the ones who'd have to pay for it, and I'm scared they'd interpret any move in that direction as me giving up on myself.

I scared and I don't know what to do; I can't go on like this but there doesn't seem to be any way out. Please help me.

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There are options. Medications are not the most important part of treatment, therapy is. Medications are if anything just there to take the edge off and make it easier for you to actually GO to therapy consistantly. But you can still make due without.

That's good to hear, though presumably they'd still find out about any therapy. It would probably be free on the NHS, but simply getting up at the same time every week would arouse their suspicions, and once they become suspicious they won't let it go.

You're 27 years old, you have autonomy for your health. No one can make you take anything you don't want to, unless you get sectioned - and that will only be because you are an immediate threat to yourself or others. If someone suggests meds, you're free to say no and that you'd prefer to try other methods first.

t. works in healthcare

here.

Oh, you're a britbong? Even better. Me too.
You don't have to go through your GP. Google IAPT - improving access to psychological therapies - and see if they cover your local area. You can self refer. You could also google your local area and "talking therapies" to see what comes up. Some areas are also covered by online services such as silver cloud. The charity MIND also offer cheap, but private, talking therapy in some areas.

If you don't want to deal with talking to your parents, you could always lie to them. Tell them that you've decided to improve your health so have scheduled a weekly walk you get out the house more, or some other BS excuse. It's not even too far from the truth, seeing that you actually are trying to improve your health

Thank you. I've made a note of your suggestions (you have some solid advice on getting around my parents), and promise to look into it as soon as possible. Do you know anyone who went down the path of drugs and therapy, and, more important, whether it worked out for them?

anti-ds can sometimes make things worse. they come with all kinds of side effects as well

That's what scares me.

Not him but I took anti-depressants for a couple of months before weening myself off them. I felt like I was living in a dream, it was very surreal and unsettling.

Granted I stopped going to therapy after one session. I didnt connect with the therapist and could tell right away we werent a good match. I should have tried to find someone else

I already hate your parents and i barely know them
1 congrats youre 27, you can make your own choices even if someone says no
2 antideporesants dont make you a second personality, they are like any other medicine, chemistry that chemistries something to make you feel better
Go to a psychologist, they know how to keep secrets, and you have to tell them about your parents( i mean you should tell them or they cant help what they dont know)

>Go to a psychologist
At this point I have to admit that I don't understand the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists. Do you know whether a GP will explain the difference and give me a choice between the two, or will I be pushed in a particular direction?

You're very welcome OP.
Both in my personal life and professionally I've known people who have taken drugs only, therapy only and people who have done both. Unfortunately there is no cookie-cutter solution for what's right - it feels like mental health is still poorly understood and an expanding field. Different people react differently - I had a patient who only took anti depressants (long term) and as far as she was concerned it fixed her, and I have a friend who killed himself after about a month and a half on anti depressants. My gf - years ago - fixed her issues at the time with a combo of anti depressants and therapy. One of my friends now (with some significant psychological issues) takes anti depressants and has therapy, and the anti-depressants are the things that get her through the day and give her the motivation to work and go to therapy. When her meds get adjusted, she notices a real change in her motivation and mood. She still has a long way to go and her issues are pretty deep.

I don't work in mental health but I have worked with people with mental health conditions, so don't take the following advice as gospel - I'm just going on what I've seen anecdotally. If it were me, I would do the following:
Try therapy first. If you're genuinely struggling to even go due to motivation, anxiety then consider going meds first to give you the breathing space to be able to undertake therapy and start making changes in your life. Those changes should, theoretically, put you in good stead for being able to stop the meds further down the line.
If you try therapy and it doesn't work for you, perhaps that type of therapy - or that therapist - isn't for you and you could try another. Alternatively, you could consider trying the med-therapy combo.
I personally wouldn't want to take meds without having therapy.

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More than anything - especially with meds - the key is COMMUNICATION. If you end up taking meds, and they make you feel worse - communicate it immediately with whoever prescribed them. It's their responsibility to look after you and make sure they haven't put you at additional risk. It's common for a lot of the meds they use not to work immediately - usually up to 3 months - and sometimes in those 3 months you can feel a LOT worse. You don't have to wait for your next appointment with your prescriber if you're feeling like this. Just make an appointment and tell them what's going on - it's their job to help. There are lots of different medications (and therapies) at lots of different dosages, so it could just be possible that the one you're on isn't for you and there's something better out there.

Go see a psychoanalyst

Britbong here again. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health (the same way a cardiologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the heart and related systems). They are allowed to prescribe medication (and will be a specialist in mental health meds), refer you to therapy and MAY deliver some therapies themselves, but that isn't their focus.
Qualified psychologists specialise in the delivery of therapies (talking or otherwise). They're not allowed to prescribe medication, but they can recommend a medic to do so. They're not medical doctors, but to become fully qualified (although trainees see patients too) they have to have a PhD.

In my experience, GPs usually start by prescribing meds rather than referring to psychiatrists unless the case is quite complicated (and don't forget, you can tell them you'd rather not take meds for now and would prefer to try therapy first if that's what you want). It's more likely you'll be referred to a psychologist.

I can't tell you how grateful I am for all your advice. I've tried asking for help on Jow Forums and Jow Forums before, only to be told to go and kill myself. I know it's only a joke, but it's still not what I wanted to hear.

I've saved your responses, and I'll make an appointment to see my GP when I ger up tomorrow. Thank you again, user.

*get

Thank you; that's much clearer now.

Thanks OP, that really made me smile. You got this - best of luck to you!

I'm 26 and from the UK, too. I'm in a similar situation regarding depression and suicidal feelings. I hope it gets better for us, buddy.

I'm sorry to hear that, user. If you haven't already sought help, I hope that what's been posted in this thread will encourage you to seek it. I'm more hopeful now than I've been in weeks thanks to the advice posted above.